Just back: DDP and gratuities (big problem)

[Forevryoung]

DBF and I were NOT on the DDP for our 1/2-1/7 trip (plane landed 1.5 hours ago). We had an AMAZING waitress last night at Le Cellier and she spoke of the new DDP.

A portion of the servers are foregoing tips for DDP guests because they do not feel comfortable asking how the party wants to pay for their tip. She said that it has become an extremely uncomfortable situation.

The waitress had left a table of 6 (new rules say 18% gratuity) without asking how they wanted to pay for her tip and they didn't leave her anything. And this has happened since the new plan went into effect. Yes, she is a foreigner (Canadian) and it may be different for American waitstaff. However I do not believe this to be the case for a proportion of the cast members.

If you are on the plan, I HIGHLY suggest carrying cash, and leave it on the table when you leave if you are not approached. I understand that people do not want to carry cash, hence the dining plan. But then be prepared to stand up and make the statement how you want to pay for their tip.

This woman in particular makes 2.15 and probably walked away from a $45 tip at that one table of 6. That's a lot of money lost nightly to keep yourself out of a very unique situation that your employer put you in.

I am writing to Disney about this, I am appalled. And yes, we left her a great tip (she was amazing anyway).

Enjoy the new DDP.

 

[annie1995]

Thats too bad . I always take cash for our tips, and I hand them to the waiter or waitress personally. I don't feel comforatable just leaving it sitting on the table for anyone to pick up as they walk by. Hopefully they will work out the kinks as time goes on.

 

[TLSnell1981]

It's actually refreshing, to see a server that has a good work ethic and class. I needed to hear this. I was really feeling like Grumpy after reading some of the posts from Dis servers. They not only will tell you how to tip them, but how much! If you give them less than 18% (the new bare minimum), they think they've been stiffed! I hope they work this out. I have read they have you add the gratuity to the check BEFORE they run your CC. This has to make a lot of people uncomfortable.

 

[eeyoresnr]

I tip according to service period. We were on the DDP last month when gratuity was still included and with the exception of 1 restaurant we tipped an additional 20% or more to all of our servers. the Hoop-Dee-Doo we only left about 10% as our server was not the best.

 

[TLSnell1981]

I tip according to service period. We were on the DDP last month when gratuity was still included and with the exception of 1 restaurant we tipped an additional 20% or more to all of our servers. the Hoop-Dee-Doo we only left about 10% as our server was not the best.

WOW! I bet your servers loved getting 38% for good service and 28% for less than stellar performances!

 

[dcrouch]

The waitress had left a table of 6 (new rules say 18% gratuity) without asking how they wanted to pay for her tip and they didn't leave her anything.

I'm confused. If you are a party of 6 or more, I thought the tip was automatically included. Either you pay cash (on the table) or the add it to your CC or Room key.

This doesn't seem right. Are you saying there is some HUGE loophole to this auto gratuity. If so, that's an awful big HOLE that Disney didn't think about.

 

[eeyoresnr]

WOW! I bet your servers loved getting 38% for good service and 28% for less than stellar performances!

well I am a server in my hometown and my husband is a firefighter and we don't make a whole lot of money, but as a server I know I can appreciate it when one goes out of their way to make my experience a better one, when they don't have to since the 18% was automatic. we were very lucky ( I had read so many horror stories about the service for the DDP) but our servers were awesome, friendly and there whenever we wanted or needed something.

 

[Forevryoung]

I'm confused. If you are a party of 6 or more, I thought the tip was automatically included. Either you pay cash (on the table) or the add it to your CC or Room key.

This doesn't seem right. Are you saying there is some HUGE loophole to this auto gratuity. If so, that's an awful big HOLE that Disney didn't think about.

But these people are on the dining plan- she doesn't want to give them a "bill" just for her tip

I don't know if that comes out of her pocket at the end of the night.

I'm just reporting back what I understand is occurring. I don't know how rampant this is.

 

[KCMiller]

DBF and I were NOT on the DDP for our 1/2-1/7 trip (plane landed 1.5 hours ago). We had an AMAZING waitress last night at Le Cellier and she spoke of the new DDP.

A portion of the servers are foregoing tips for DDP guests because they do not feel comfortable asking how the party wants to pay for their tip. She said that it has become an extremely uncomfortable situation.

The waitress had left a table of 6 (new rules say 18% gratuity) without asking how they wanted to pay for her tip and they didn't leave her anything. And this has happened since the new plan went into effect. Yes, she is a foreigner (Canadian) and it may be different for American waitstaff. However I do not believe this to be the case for a proportion of the cast members.

.....
This woman in particular makes 2.15 and probably walked away from a $45 tip at that one table of 6. That's a lot of money lost nightly to keep yourself out of a very unique situation that your employer put you in.

I am writing to Disney about this, I am appalled. And yes, we left her a great tip (she was amazing anyway).

Enjoy the new DDP.

Um, I am always suspect of a server who cries 'poor me' to a customer. Seems to me that she was telling you a story to get your sympathy. Believe me, as a person with over 10 years of service under my belt, no server is going to walk away from a table of 6 too embarassed to ask a perfectly legitimate 'how would you like to pay for that?'. As far as I'm concerned, when a server starts telling me what bad tippers other people are, that's my clue that they are fishing for an extra sympathy tip from me.

When a server does a good, solid, no fuss job I pay them what I owe them and what they deserve, 20% of the check. I don't think of it as an optional thing, I think of a 'tip' as a legitimate cost to a restaurant meal. 20% for good solid table service, 10% for good solid buffet service, 15% if the buffet server actually brought me something and was good about clearing the plates.

That being said, I think the changes to the DDP stink, and that tips should be included in the cost of meals at WDW.


KC

 

[TLSnell1981]

Um, I am always suspect of a server who cries 'poor me' to a customer. Seems to me that she was telling you a story to get your sympathy. Believe me, as a person with over 10 years of service under my belt, no server is going to walk away from a table of 6 too embarassed to ask a perfectly legitimate 'how would you like to pay for that?'. As far as I'm concerned, when a server starts telling me what bad tippers other people are, that's my clue that they are fishing for an extra sympathy tip from me.

When a server does a good, solid, no fuss job I pay them what I owe them and what they deserve, 20% of the check. I don't think of it as an optional thing, I think of a 'tip' as a legitimate cost to a restaurant meal. 20% for good solid table service, 10% for good solid buffet service, 15% if the buffet server actually brought me something and was good about clearing the plates.

That being said, I think the changes to the DDP stink, and that tips should be included in the cost of meals at WDW.


KC

 

[LexPlayer]

 

[angelmav]

 

[byoung]

They should just do away with the plan.

 

[KCMiller]

Why, thanks, everyone!

KC

 

[GrowingUpDisney]

I too tip based on the service I receive. If I receive lousy service, the waiter/waitress receives lousy to no tip. There have been occassions where I have left no tip at all because the service was so bad. However, if I have exceptional service, I tip exceptionally well. If a server whined to me about the other table not leaving a tip - I wouldn't have given them more...that is not MY responsibility.

 

[mom2my3kids]

My server at Ohana told me the story about a table walking out on the bill. But he was still a excellent server so we gave him a additional tip on top of it being on the meal plan in Sept. As we were leaving I heard him telling the next table the same story, I wondered if it was true or not.

 

[robemcdo]

On a dinner bill that was say $150 on the old ddp, would the server take home 18% of that or would they get less. I asked a the CM on a few occasions if they were covered under the plan and they all said yes, but I"ve been reading that some customers tipped them as well.

 

[mom2my3kids]

Yes it was, but some others just wanted to leave extra for good service.

 

[meowma123]

all of the servers we have had have brought us the gratuity slip before they run our card for the DDP. We have had to write the tip amount on the slip and then put our card with it and they run the card, charging the tip to our room. None of them have seemed to have a problem with telling us about how the tips work now.

 

[Rneighh]

We just returned yesterday and we were on the deluxe dining plan. All of my bill print outs showed tip of 18% or 20% on the bottom. I just circled how much I wanted to charge or I left cash. We had no problems. Some friends who were not on the plan joined us at some meals. When we had 6 or more diners 18% was automatically added to each of our bills. I don't see how the servers are having problems it says right on the bill that tip is not included unless you are parties of 6 or more.

Renee